​

Measles, just an annoying childhood disease? Nothing to worry about? Let natural immunity look after them? No need to risk the "dangers" of vaccination? Tell that to the 17 people in Romania who had a little infection. O, wait, you can't. They're dead. 3,400 other people contracted measles in 2015 and this spike in cases is directly linked to the decrease in vaccination rates. In 2007, 97% of people were vaccinated, by 2015 the percentage had fallen to 86, well below the magic 95%. Herd immunity kicks in at 95% vaccination rate. With that many people immunized, the chances of a virus finding a host are low and lower yet is the opportunity to infect another unprotected person. It's not just happening in Romania. The European Centre for Disease Prevention reports endemic transmission of measles in Belgium, France, Italy and Poland. Still, that's Europe, this is Alberta.Sorry, we are susceptible to the idiocy of anti-vaxxers and the trend to leave children unprotected. As of 2017, Alberta Health Services reports 51 cases of mumps, an unpleasant viral infection causing swelling of head and neck glands, fever, aches, etc. O, yeah. In some people, the affected organs are the testicles, the ovaries or the pancreas. Unpleasant, indeed. Meningitis is a possible development. Babies and children too young to immunize could be put at risk because people decided that vaccines are "too dangerous." It is likely these are the same people giving "natural, herbal" preparations to their kids. Preparations that aren't subjected to testing, government standards and general safety regulations. Vaccinations save lives. Not just the lives of recipients but of everyone. Check out herd immunity. It cannot be emphasized enough.